U.S. patent number 8,925,818 [Application Number 14/053,293] was granted by the patent office on 2015-01-06 for data collection system having eir terminal interface node.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Hand Held Products, Inc.. The grantee listed for this patent is Hand Held Products, Inc.. Invention is credited to Aldo Mario Caballero, James Kosecki.
United States Patent |
8,925,818 |
Kosecki , et al. |
January 6, 2015 |
Data collection system having EIR terminal interface node
Abstract
A network accessible node that facilitates management of a fleet
of portable communication devices (EIR terminal), including
portable data terminals and/or barcode readers, by directing
performance of software upgrade and/or configuration update actions
by one or more members of the fleet of EIR terminals.
Inventors: |
Kosecki; James (Syracuse,
NY), Caballero; Aldo Mario (Charlotte, NC) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hand Held Products, Inc. |
Fort Mill |
SC |
US |
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Assignee: |
Hand Held Products, Inc. (Fort
Mill, SC)
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Family
ID: |
40019508 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/053,293 |
Filed: |
October 14, 2013 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20140175169 A1 |
Jun 26, 2014 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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13663060 |
Oct 29, 2012 |
8556174 |
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13233598 |
Oct 30, 2012 |
8297508 |
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12979147 |
Sep 27, 2011 |
8025233 |
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11893603 |
Dec 28, 2010 |
7857222 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
235/449;
235/462.15; 235/462.14 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F
16/27 (20190101); H04L 67/34 (20130101); H04L
41/0816 (20130101); G06F 16/182 (20190101); G06K
7/01 (20130101); H04L 41/082 (20130101); G06Q
10/06 (20130101); G06F 8/65 (20130101); H04L
67/42 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06K
7/08 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;235/449,462.14,462.15
;340/539.11,539.19 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2026223 |
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Feb 2009 |
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EP |
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0217073 |
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Feb 2002 |
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WO |
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2005033964 |
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Apr 2005 |
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WO |
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Other References
European Search Report in European Application No. 08162401.7, Jul.
19, 2012 (EP2026223 A3) 10 pages. cited by applicant .
Hand Held Products Model Selection Guide, URL:
http;//www.handheld.com/site.aspx/na/en/poduct.sub.--center/hardware/?pod-
uct+74, 1 page, Mar. 6, 2008. cited by applicant .
Hand Held Products MSM (Mobile Systems Manager) Administrator's
Guide, Version 1.1, Hand Held Products, Inc., 77 Visions Drive,
Skaneateles Falls, NY 13153, 320 pages, May 2005. cited by
applicant .
Hand Held Products, Inc., Dolphin 7400 Net Base Charging
Communication Cradle, Product Specifications, 2 pages, 2005. cited
by applicant .
Hand Held Products, Inc., Dolphin Mobile Intellibase
Communications-Charging Cradle, Product Specifications, 2 pages,
2005. cited by applicant .
Hand Held Products, Inc., HHP Dolphin 7400 Batch Mobile Computer
Product Specifications, URL:
http://www.amerbar.com/catalog/dolphin.sub.--7400.asp, 5 pages,
Nov. 28, 2006. cited by applicant .
Industrial Scientific Corporation, Industrial Scientific DS2
Docking Station Description Sheet, URL:
http://www.globalspec.com/FeaturedProducts/Detail/IndustrialScientific/DS-
2.sub.--Docking.sub.--Station/10809/0, 1 page, Mar. 6, 2008. cited
by applicant .
Industrial Scientific Corporation, Industrial Scientific DS2
Docking Station Product Brochure, URL:
http:www.airmet.com.au/files/documents/DS2.sub.--Lit.pdf, 2 pages,
Mar. 6, 2008. cited by applicant .
Industrial Scientific Corporation, Industrial Scientific DS2
Docking Station Specification Sheet, URL:
http:www.airmet.com.au/files/documetns/DS2.sub,.sub.--Specds.pdf, 1
pages, Mar. 6, 2008. cited by applicant .
Industrial Scientific Corporation, Industrial Scientific DS2
Docking Station Specification Sheet, URL:
http:www.airmet.com.au/files/documents/DS2.sub.--Specs.pdf, 1
pages, Mar. 6, 2008. cited by applicant .
Industrial Scientific Corporation, Industrial Scientific DS2
Docketing Station, URL: www.indsci.com/products, 5 pages, Apr. 18,
2007. cited by applicant .
Jadak Technologies, 2020-5B Communication and Charging Cradle,
Product Detail Sheet, URL:
hht://www.jadatech.com/products/product.cfm?prod+1071, 1 page, Mar.
6, 2008. cited by applicant .
Jadak Technologies, AppForge Enterprise Developers Suite, Product
Detail Sheets, URL:
http://www.jadaktech.com/products/product.cfm?prod=973, 3 pages,
Mar. 6, 2008. cited by applicant .
Jadak Technologies, D9500 Series HomeBase, Product Detail Sheet,
URL: http:www.jadaktech.com/products/product.cfm?prod=1055, 1
pages, Mar. 6, 2008. cited by applicant .
Jadak Technologies, Dolphin 73-74x0 Intellibase, Product Detail
Sheet, URL: http:www.jadaktech.com/products/product.cfm?prod=835, 1
page, Mar. 6, 2008. cited by applicant .
Jadak Technologies, Dolphin 73-74x0 Mobile Base, Product Detail
Sheet, URL: http:www.jadaktech.com/products/product.cfm?prod=834, 1
page, Mar. 6, 2008. cited by applicant .
Jadak Technologies, Dolphin 73-74x0 Net Base, Product Detail Sheet,
URL: http:www.jadaktech.comlproducts/product.cfm?prod=904, 1 page,
Mar. 6, 2008. cited by applicant .
Jadak Technologies, Dolphin 7900 HomeBase, Product Detail Sheet,
URL: http:www.jadaktech.com/products/product.cfm?prod=1049, 1
pages, Mar. 6, 2008. cited by applicant .
Jadak Technologies, Dolphin 7900 Mobile Computer, Product Detail
Sheets, URL: http:www.jadaktech.com/products/product.cfm?prod=995,
6 pages, Mar. 6, 2008. cited by applicant .
Jadak Technologies, ITScriptNet Data, Collection Software, Product
Detail Sheets, URL:
http:www.jadaktech.com/products/product.cfm?prod=891, 2 pages, Mar.
6, 2008. cited by applicant .
MRA Technologies, Mobile Inventory Management From MRA
Technologies, URL: http://mra-tech.com/mobile.html, 2 pages, Apr.
18, 2007. cited by applicant.
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Primary Examiner: Haupt; Kristy A
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Additon, Higgins & Pendleton,
P.A.
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 13/663,060 filed Oct. 29, 2012, entitled "Data Collection
System Having EIR Terminal Interface Node," which is a divisional
of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/233,598, filed Sep. 15,
2011, entitled "Data Collection System Having EIR Terminal
Interface Node," which is a divisional of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 12/979,147, filed Dec. 27, 2010, (now U.S. Pat. No.
8,025,233) entitled "Data Collection System Having EIR Terminal,"
which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/893,603, filed Aug. 17, 2007, (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,857,222). All
of the above applications are expressly incorporated herein by
reference.
Claims
We claim:
1. A system comprising: an encoded information reading (EIR)
terminal; a terminal interface node; a docking station; wherein
said EIR terminal is configured to establish a communication with
said terminal interface node upon engaging to said docking station;
wherein said EIR terminal is configured to upload data to said
terminal interface node; wherein said EIR terminal is configured to
transmit a terminal status message to said terminal interface node;
wherein said terminal interface node is configured to transmit,
responsive to receiving said terminal status message, a terminal
reprogramming message to said EIR terminal, said terminal
reprogramming message including at least one of: a binary file, a
data file, a script file; wherein said EIR terminal is configured
to execute, responsive to receiving said binary file, said binary
file; wherein said EIR terminal is configure to update, responsive
to receiving said data file, a software configuration parameter;
wherein said EIR terminal is configured to execute, responsive to
receiving said script file, said script file; wherein said terminal
interface node is configured to complete a higher priority
operation before executing a lower priority operation; and wherein
a priority of said upload of said data to said terminal interface
node is higher than a priority of said transmit of said
reprogramming message by said terminal interface node.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said terminal status message
reflects one of: a status of hardware component of said EIR
terminal; a status of software component of said EIR terminal.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein said terminal reprogramming
message includes one of: a time of executing said script file and a
condition to be satisfied to trigger the executing of said script
file.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein said terminal interface node is
configured to query, before transmitting said terminal
reprogramming message, a reprogramming database, said reprogramming
database containing a plurality of reprogramming records, each
reprogramming record of said plurality of reprogramming records
containing an EIR terminal identifying information and at least one
of: binary file identifier, a data file identifier, a script file
identifier.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein said terminal interface node is
configured to query, before transmitting said terminal
reprogramming message, a terminal status database, said terminal
status database containing a plurality of terminal status
records.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein said terminal interface node as
configured to modify, responsively to receiving a reprogramming
information message from a resource network, a reprogramming
database, said reprogramming database containing a plurality of
reprogramming records, each reprogramming record of said plurality
of reprogramming records containing an EIR terminal identifying
information and at least one of: a binary file identifier, a data
file identifier, a script file identifier.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to providing a network accessible
node interfacing with a fleet of terminals, and in particular to
providing a network accessible interface node that facilitates
management of a fleet of portable encoded information reading
terminals (EIR terminals), by directing performance of software
upgrades and/or configuration update actions by one or more members
of the fleet of EIR terminals.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various organizations, including retail and manufacturing
businesses, can employ sizable fleets of EIR terminals. These
terminals include, for example, barcode reading terminals and other
types of EIR terminals. These terminals are typically mobile, but
are periodically engaged with a docking station (e.g., for charging
the battery at the end of every working shift). A number of actions
typically need to be performed upon the terminals as part of the
terminal fleet management operations, including terminal
reprogramming operations (e.g., terminal software upgrade or
terminal configuration update). Communicating and interfacing with
a large fleet of mobile terminals can require substantial planning
and effort.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The objects and features of the invention can be better understood
with reference to the claims and drawings described below. The
drawings are not necessarily to scale, the emphasis is instead
generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the
invention. Within the drawings, like reference numbers are used to
indicate like parts throughout the various views.
FIG. 1a illustrates a communications network including an EIR
terminal interface node, a plurality of EIR terminals, and a
resource network.
FIG. 1b illustrates a diagram of a data collection system
comprising several interface nodes disposed at several data
collection facilities.
FIG. 1c illustrates a block diagram of a generic encoded
information reading terminal.
FIG. 1d illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of
an interface node 100 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 1e illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a
resource network computer 140 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 2a illustrates a flow diagram of a sample implementation of
the execution thread responsible for processing the messages
received by EIR terminal interface node from the EIR terminal
members of the managed fleet.
FIG. 2b illustrates a flow diagram of a sample implementation of
the execution thread responsible for processing the messages
received by EIR terminal interface node from the resource
network.
FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of a sample implementation of the
execution thread responsible for processing the messages received
by the resource network from EIR terminal interface node.
FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram a sample implementation of the
execution thread responsible for communications to the EIR terminal
interface node by an EIR terminal member of a managed fleet.
FIG. 5a illustrates an example of the structure of the tables of an
EIR terminal Fleet Management Database.
FIG. 5b illustrates an example of the structure of the tables of an
EIR terminal Fleet Management Database.
FIG. 6a illustrates a user interface by means of which a user can
configure the resource network to perform the fleet management
tasks and/or generate fleet management reports.
FIG. 6b illustrates a user interface by means of which a user can
configure EIR terminal interface node.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
There is described herein a data collection system having one or
more encoded information reading (EIR) terminals and an EIR
terminal interface node (interface node) in conjunction with the
one or more EIR terminals. The interface node can be configured for
use in managing the reprogramming of the one or more EIR terminals.
In one embodiment, the interface node can be disposed in a common
local facility and connected to a common local area network with
the at least one EIR terminal. In one embodiment, the interface
node can retain status information respecting EIR terminals of the
system. In another embodiment, the interface node can be configured
to receive and process status messages from EIR terminals updating
the status information of each EIR terminal in the system. The
interface node can update a terminal status database in
communication with the interface node utilizing terminal status
data contained in a terminal status message received from an EIR
terminal.
The terminal status database can facilitate resolving terminal
identifying conditions based upon the presence and/or status of
specific hardware and/or software components, thus allowing for
flexible descriptions of subsets of terminals to be reprogrammed.
For example, all terminals having a specific hardware component
might need to perform an upgrade of the software associated with
the hardware component, or all terminals having a particular
software component of a particular version number might need to
perform an upgrade of the software component, etc.
In another embodiment, the interface node can receive and process
reprogramming request messages from EIR terminals of the system. In
one embodiment, a reprogramming request message can be provided by
a status message. Responsively to processing a reprogramming
request message, an interface node can build a reprogramming
message for transmittal to the requesting EIR terminal. An
interface node, in one embodiment can be configured so that the
interface node in building reprogramming messages utilizes the
information determined by querying the terminal status database. In
another aspect, an interface node can build a reprogramming message
for transmittal to one or more EIR terminals responsively to
receiving user interface input. In another aspect, an interface
node can build a reprogramming message for transmittal to one or
more EIR terminals responsively to communications received from a
remotely located resource network.
In addition to being in communication with a terminal status
database, an interface node can be in communication with a terminal
reprogramming database. The terminal reprogramming database can be
provided at a location external to any EIR terminal. An interface
node can utilize the information determined by querying the
terminal reprogramming database in building reprogramming messages
for transmittal to EIR terminals. An interface node can also be in
communication with a file system that stores files for transmittal
to EIR terminals. The terminal reprogramming database can contain a
plurality of reprogramming records, each reprogramming record
containing an EIR terminal identifying information and at least one
of: a binary file, a data file, a script file, for use by the
interface node in determining whether one or more identified files
will be transmitted to a certain EIR terminal of the system. The
terminal identifying information can be specified, e.g., by a
terminal unique identifier, or by one or more <operand=value>
conditions, wherein the operand can be, for example, terminal ID,
terminal type, component type, component status, etc.
In one embodiment, the interface node can be in communication with
a resource network, which in one embodiment can comprise one or
more computers disposed at a location remote from the interface
node. A "computer" herein shall refer to a programmable device for
data processing, including a central processing unit (CPU), a
memory, and at least one communication interface. A computer can be
provided, e.g., by a personal computer (PC) running Linux operating
system.
In one embodiment, the interface node can have a user interface
allowing its operator to specify a Domain Name System (DNS) name or
IP address of at least one computer on the resource network.
In one embodiment, the interface node can be configured to receive
reprogramming information messages responsively to transmitting a
request to a computer on the resource network. In one embodiment, a
response to a reprogramming message request can include a
redirection address. The interface node can be configured to
receive reprogramming information messages responsively to
transmitting a request to the redirection address.
In one embodiment, the interface node can communicate with the
resource network using the Service Oriented Architecture Protocol
(SOAP), Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) protocol, and/or a
proprietary application level protocol.
In one embodiment, the resource network can initiate the
communication with the interface node by transmitting a
reprogramming information message to the interface node.
The interface node can be configured to receive and process
reprogramming information messages from the resource network. The
reprogramming information messages can take the form of
reprogramming file identifier messages and reprogramming file
messages. At least one computer on the resource network can have a
user interface enabling an operator to cause the interface node to
direct performance of reprogramming actions, e.g., by initiating
transmittal of reprogramming information messages to an interface
node, which can utilize information of a reprogramming information
message to modify the reprogramming database. In one embodiment,
the resource network can have an interface to one or more external
systems (e.g., to an EIR terminal manufacturer's software version
control system). The messages received by the resource network from
the external systems can cause the interface node to direct
performance of reprogramming actions, e.g., by initiating
transmittal of reprogramming information messages by the resource
network to an interface node.
In one embodiment, the interface node can be configured to allow a
local administrator to specify a processing workflow to be executed
upon a reprogramming message received from a resource network
before performing a modification of the reprogramming database,
e.g., in accordance with local business rules and procedures. For
example, local business rules and procedures may require a quality
control to be performed upon a software update received from the
resource network before authorizing the modification of the
terminal reprogramming database.
In another embodiment, the interface node can be configured so that
the interface node when processing a reprogramming file message
caches the received reprogramming file message for later use by EIR
terminals of the system. The interface node can also be configured
so that the interface node when receiving a reprogramming file
identifier, messages the interface node, determines whether the
reprogramming file corresponding to the identifier has been
previously cached, and responsively transmits a file request
message to the host processor if the file has not been previously
cached. Caching of files at the interface node reduces the volume
of traffic between a host processor and the interface node. The
reduction in the traffic can be dramatic for data collection sites
employing sizeable fleets, where it might be necessary to
distribute the same file to a large number of terminals. In the
absence of the caching feature by the interface node, the file
would be transmitted, possibly from a remote location over a wide
area network, to every terminal.
In one embodiment, the terminal reprogramming database can be
modified by way of commands input by a user using a user interface
of the interface node or by way of processing the mentioned
reprogramming information messages received from a host
processor.
In one embodiment, the interface node can be configured to transmit
a reprogramming message to an EIR terminal responsively to an EIR
terminal being physically docked in a docking station and can be
further configured to be restricted from transmitting reprogramming
messages to an EIR terminal unless the EIR terminal is physically
docked to a docking station. The interface node can be further
configured to transmit a reprogramming message to an EIR terminal
only during a specified time frame, e.g., from 2 a.m. until 4 a.m.
In such manner, an operator of an EIR terminal is protected from
interruptions in the operation of an EIR terminal which otherwise
might be brought about by the receipt of reprogramming
messages.
Transmitting reprogramming messages responsively to a docking event
has a further advantage of facilitating the scheduling of
reprogramming messages transmittal to terminals, since all
terminals are periodically docked to a docking station (e.g., for
charging the battery at the end of every working shift). Thus, an
operator or an automated procedure initiating a terminal
reprogramming operation might be virtually certain that the
reprogramming message would be transmitted to the terminal within a
known period of time (e.g., at the end of the current work
shift).
The system can further be configured so that an interface node
receives a status update message from an EIR terminal responsively
to an EIR terminal being physically docked in a docking station and
can be further configured so that an interface node can be
restricted from receiving status update messages unless the
terminal is physically docked to a docking station.
An interface node can facilitate the management of a fleet of EIR
terminals which includes tracking terminal status, responding to
requests for reprogramming by transmitting terminal reprogramming
messages, and performing terminal diagnostics. The EIR terminal
interface node can be configured to communicate with a resource
network and a fleet of EIR terminals. An EIR terminal can connect
to an interface node either directly (e.g., over a wireless network
interface) or via a docking station. The resource network can be
configured to communicate with n>=1 interface nodes located at
0<m<=n local facilities, over a local area network (LAN) or a
wide area network (WAN).
In one embodiment, an EIR terminal can be configured to communicate
with an interface node via TCP/IP protocol. In one aspect, an EIR
terminal can be configured to use a static IP address. In another
aspect, an EIR terminal can be configured to request a dynamic IP
address by broadcasting a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
(DHCP) request. In another embodiment, an EIR terminal can be
configured to communicate with an interface node via Point-to-Point
Protocol (PPP).
An interface node can be configured to run a DHCP server software
program to service DHCP requests initiated by EIR terminals for
dynamic assignment of IP addresses.
An EIR terminal can be configured, upon successfully engaging with
a docking station, to upload the data which needs to be stored
externally (e.g., the data collected by the terminal during the
last work shift), and to transmit a terminal status message
reflecting the originating terminal software and hardware status,
and/or status of at least some of the terminal's hardware
components.
In one embodiment, an interface node can be configured to query a
docked EIR terminal for the list of active communication
interfaces. An EIR terminal can be configured to reply to the
active interface list request with the list of its active
interfaces. In one embodiment, the list of active interfaces can
include their types and IP addresses. An interface node can be
configured, upon receiving the list of a terminal's active
interfaces, to select an interface not associated with the docking
station to which the terminal is currently engaged, and to perform
further communications with the terminal over the selected
interface.
An interface node can be configured to perform EIR terminal
management functions including: receiving, storing locally and/or
forwarding to a host computer the data collected by the EIR
terminal members of the managed fleet, transmitting to EIR
terminals messages directing terminal reprogramming operations,
including software upgrades (e.g., binary files for execution) and
configuration updates (e.g., data files); caching reprogramming
files received from the resource network. An interface node can be
further configured to allow any higher priority operations (e.g.,
data upload by an EIR terminal) to complete before performing
terminal reprogramming operations. An EIR terminal interface node
can be further configured, upon completing any higher priority
operations, to perform terminal diagnostics and/or testing.
An interface node can receive a reprogramming file message from a
resource network at a time asynchronous relative to the time at
which it transmits reprogramming files to an EIR terminal.
Providing a data collection system in which reprogramming data is
asynchronously transmitted to an EIR terminal provides a number of
advantages. For example, an interface node can include a
reprogramming file information viewer and a user can review
reprogramming information prior to transmission of a reprogramming
file to an EIR terminal and possibly manually modify
characteristics of a reprogramming file prior to transmission of a
reprogramming file. Also, when reprogramming files such as binary
files and data files are stored in a file system in communication
with an interface node, security checks can be run on the files
prior to transmission to an EIR terminal to check for viruses,
security breaches, and the like. Also, asynchronously transmitting
reprogramming data from a host processor to an EIR terminal when
combined with a caching of reprogramming files at an interface node
reduces a volume of data traffic between a host processor and an
interface node.
While systems, methods, and apparatuses described herein are useful
when incorporated in a data collection system incorporating encoded
information reading terminals, it will be understood that systems,
methods, and apparatuses described herein can also be usefully
incorporated in communications networks other than data collection
systems that are devoid of EIR terminals.
FIG. 1a illustrates an embodiment of data collection system 1000
including an interface node 100. In one embodiment, the interface
node 100 can be implemented as a computer comprising a CPU (not
shown in FIG. 1a), a memory (not shown in FIG. 1a), and a plurality
of network interfaces 132a-132z, 142a-142z for communicating with
the EIR terminals 110a-110z, and a resource network 150. In another
embodiment (not shown in FIG. 1a), the interface node 100 can be
implemented as two or more computers, each of the computers
comprising a CPU, a memory, and at least one communication
interface.
Referring again to FIG. 1a, the resource network 150 can be in
communication with interface node 100 over a router 152. The
resource network 150 can comprise one or more computers 140a-140z.
One or more computers on the resource network 150 can run an HTTP
server software component 180. The resource network 150 can include
a fleet management database 190 which can be a central repository
of the information regarding configuration and status of EIR
terminals located at several local sites, and run on one or more
computers 140a-140z. In one embodiment, the HTTP server software
component 180 and the fleet management database 190 can reside on
one or more computers 140a-140z. In another embodiment, the
functionality of the resource network can be provided by a single
computer 140.
In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1b interface node 100 can be
disposed at a common local facility 2102 with the fleet of EIR
terminals 110a-110z and can be in communication with the fleet of
EIR terminals over a LAN. A local facility at which interface node
100 and EIR terminals 110a-110z can be disposed, can be e.g., a
data collection facility such as retail store, a distribution
center, a warehouse, a transportation center (e.g., an airport), or
a medical care facility. Resource network 150 in one embodiment can
be disposed remotely relative to local facility 2102 and can be in
communication with interface node 100 over a WAN 154. System 1000
as is indicated in FIG. 1b can include additional interface nodes
100' and 100'' each disposed at respective additional data
collection facilities 2101 and 2103. Each interface node 100, 100',
100'' can be in communication with a different fleet of EIR
terminals 110a-100z. Interface node 100 can be in communication
with fleet of EIR terminals 100a-100z, interface node 100' can be
in communication with fleet of EIR terminals 110a'-110z', and
interface node 100'' can be in communication with fleet of EIR
terminals 110a''-110z''.
A block diagram of a generic encoded information reading terminal
110 is shown in FIG. 1 c. Encoded information reading terminals
110a-110z, 110a'-110z', 110a''-110z'' can be provisioned in the
manner of terminal 110 shown in FIG. 1c. Each encoded information
reading terminal 110 can include a central processing unit (CPU) 40
in communication with various input devices such as a keyboard 51,
pointer controller 52, and output devices such as a display 53.
Such input and output devices can be in communication with CPU 40
via a system bus 50. Also in communication with CPU 40 via system
bus 50 can be a memory 60. Memory 60 can comprise a combination of
one or more volatile memory devices 61, one or more non-volatile
memory devices 62, and one or more long term storage devices 63.
Further in communication with CPU 40 can be an encoded information
reading device 75. For communication with interface node 100 and
other external computers, EIR terminal 110 can include a plurality
of communication interfaces 71, 72. For example, in one embodiment
EIR terminal can have an Ethernet communication interface 72 and an
802.11 wireless communication interface 71.
In one example, encoded information reading device 75 can be a
barcode reading device, such as the IT4XXX/5XXX imaging module that
has a decode out circuit of the type available from Hand Held
Products, Inc. (Skaneateles Falls, N.Y.). The IT 4XXX/5XXX imaging
module with a decode out circuit provides decoding of a plurality
of different types of barcode symbols and other decodable symbols
such as PDF 417, Micro PDF 417, Maxicode, Data Matrix, QR Code,
Aztec, Aztec Mesa, Code 49, UCC Composite, Snowflake, Data Gliffs,
Code 39, Code 128, Codabar, UPC, EAN, Interleave 205, RSS, Code 93,
Codablock, BC412, Postnet, Planet Code, BPO Forcedate, Canadian
Forcedate, Japanese Post, KIX (Dutch Post), OCR A, OCR B, and any
combinations thereof. In another example, reading device 75 can be
an RFID reading device, such as the Skytek Sky Module M1 reading
device and Sky Module M8 reading device. In the case of a barcode
reading device, reading device 75 can scan the contents of, for
example, a barcode. In another example, reading device 75 can be a
card reading device such as the Panasonic ZU-9A36CF4 integrated
circuit smart card (IC CARD) reading device. In yet another
example, encoded information reading device 75 can be any
combination of barcode reading device, RFID reading device, and
card reading device. Each EIR terminal of system 1000 can be
incorporated in a hand held housing, examples of which are shown in
FIG. 1c.
Block diagrams illustrating exemplary embodiments of interface node
100 and a resource network computer 140 are described in FIG. 1d.
In one embodiment, interface node 100 can be implemented as a
computer that can include a memory 1060 having a combination of one
or more volatile memory devices 1061, non-volatile memory devices
1062, and long term memory storage devices 1063, and a CPU 1040 in
communication with memory 1060 via a system bus 1050. Interface
node 100 can have a plurality of communication interfaces 1071,
1072 for communication with each of several docking stations
120a-120z, including, e.g., an Ethernet 1072 and an 802.11 wireless
communication interface 1071. Alternatively, the interface node 100
can have a single communication interface coupled to a multiplexer
(not shown) for communicating with each of several docking stations
120a-120z. Interface node 100 can have additional communication
interfaces for communicating to external computers such as
computers on the resource network 150 and/or EIR terminals 110
directly (i.e., not through docking station 120a-120z). Interface
node 100 can also include a user interface component such as a
display 1053, a pointer controller 1052, and a keyboard 1051.
Interface node 100 can be adapted to run a graphical user interface
wherein a user can select various displayed buttons on display 1053
using pointer controller 1052.
In another embodiment (not shown in FIG. 1d), interface node 100
can be implemented as two or more computers, where each of the
computers can include a CPU, a memory, a system bus, one or more
communication interfaces, a display, a pointer controller, and a
keyboard.
Referring to further aspects of interface node 100, interface node
100 can also include a file system 2080, and can incorporate a
number of databases including an EIR Terminal Status Database 1090
and Terminal Reprogramming Database 1094. An exemplary embodiment
of the EIR terminal status database 1090 is shown in FIG. 5a, where
database 1090 is shown as including three tables; namely a Terminal
Configuration Table 510, a Hardware Component Status Table 520, and
a Software Component Status Table 530.
A Terminal Reprogramming Database 1094, an example of which is
shown in FIG. 5b, can comprise a Scheduled Terminal Reprogramming
Table 540, a Reprogramming Conditions Table 550, and a Pending
Terminal Reprogramming Table 555. Regarding database 1094,
reprogramming database can contain reprogramming records, each
reprogramming record containing terminal identifying information
and reprogramming file identifiers (which may be stored in various
columns such as Script File Name, Binary File Name and Data File
Name columns), for use by interface node 100 in determining whether
a reprogramming message is to be built for a particular EIR
terminal. The terminal identifying information can be specified,
e.g., by one or more <operand=value> conditions, wherein the
operand can be, for example, terminal ID, terminal type, component
type, component status, etc. If more than one <operand=value>
condition is used to specify the terminal identifying information,
then the sequential number of the condition can be stored in the
sequence number column, and the conditions can be joined by AND or
OR logical operations specified in the operation column, e.g.,
<component type=battery> AND <component status=1>.
In another aspect, a software process running on interface node 100
can query the tables of database 1094 for purposes of determining
whether an identified file is to be transmitted to a particular
terminal. System 1000 can be configured so that for every record in
Scheduled Terminal Reprogramming Table 540, one or more conditions
can be extracted from Reprogramming Conditions Table 550, with
condition ID in the records extracted from Reprogramming Conditions
Table 550 matching the condition ID in the record of Scheduled
Terminal Reprogramming Table 540. If more than one condition is
extracted from Reprogramming Conditions Table 550, the extracted
conditions can be ordered according to the value of the sequence
number column of Reprogramming Conditions Table 550, and joined
together with the logical operations specified in the operation
column of Reprogramming Conditions Table 550. System 1000 can be
further configured so that for every terminal satisfying the one or
more conditions extracted, a new record can be created in Pending
Terminal Reprogramming Table 555. The newly created record can
include a Terminal Identifier, Script File Identifier; Binary File
Identifier, Data File Identifier, the Reprogramming Operation
Priority, and the Reprogramming Operation Status.
The Reprogramming Operation Priority can be specified, e.g., on a 1
to 10 scale with 1 being the highest and 10 being the lowest
priority.
The Reprogramming Operations Status can be set to "Scheduled" upon
creating a new record. The Reprogramming Operation Status can then
be changed to "Pending" upon transmitting a reprogramming message
to the corresponding terminal. The Reprogramming Operation Status
can be finally set to "Complete" upon receiving a terminal status
message confirming the completion of the reprogramming
operation.
For every record in table 555 with status different from
"Complete", interface node 100 can build a reprogramming message to
a particular terminal identified by the Terminal ID.
Referring to resource network computer 140, resource network
computer 140 can be provisioned in a manner similar to interface
node 100. Referring to FIG. 1e, resource network computer 140 can
include a CPU 2040 and a memory 2060 having a combination of one or
more volatile memory devices 2061, non-volatile memory devices
2062, and long term memory storage devices 2063 in communication
with CPU 2040 by way of system bus 2050. Memory 2060 can have a
combination of one or more volatile non-volatile and store devices.
Resource network computer 140 can have one or more communication
interfaces 2071, 2072 for communication with each of second
external computers. Resource network computer 140 can also include
user interface components such as a display 2053, a pointer
controller 2052, and a keyboard 2051. Resource network computer 140
can be adapted to run a graphical user interface wherein a user can
select various displayed buttons on display 2053 using pointer
controller 2052. Resource network computer 140 can also include a
file system 2080.
In the embodiment shown, an EIR terminal 110a-110z can communicate
with the EIR terminal interface node 100 either directly (e.g., via
a wireless interface) or via a docking station 120a-120z to which
the EIR terminal is currently engaged (physically docked). An EIR
terminal 110a-110z can have a wireline (e.g., Ethernet, RS/232,
etc.) or wireless (e.g., Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11x, infrared, etc.)
connection to docking stations 120a-120z. A docking station can be
a "dumb" docking station which is not capable of any processing of
the contents of the messages it relays to and from the EIR terminal
it is engaged to. A "dumb" docking station can include a
microcontroller programmed to format data packets in accordance
with a known protocol, e.g., RS232, ETHERNET. The functions of a
"dumb" docking station can include charging of the EIR terminal's
battery (not shown) and relaying data packets between the EIR
terminal 110 and EIR terminal interface node 100. A "dumb" docking
station can be characterized by a relatively low cost.
EIR terminal interface node 100 can be configured to perform EIR
terminal management functions including: receiving storing locally
and forwarding to a host computer the data collected by the EIR
terminal members of the managed fleet, conditionally transmitting
messages directing terminal reprogramming including software
upgrades (e.g., executable files) and configuration updates (e.g.,
data files) to EIR terminals responsive to receiving an EIR
terminal reprogramming request message, receiving updates from the
resource network, caching update files received from the resource
network, and maintaining a local copy of terminals status
database.
FIGS. 2a and 2b illustrate a flow diagram of operation of an EIR
terminal interface node in an exemplary embodiment managing a fleet
of EIR terminals.
Several important functions of the EIR terminal fleet management
can be implemented as independently and simultaneously executable
processing threads. However, a skilled artisan would appreciate the
fact that other suitable implementations are possible, e.g.,
employing multiple processes rather than multiple threads in an
operating system which does not support threads, or employing a
single process architecture with or without using hardware and/or
software interrupt servicing routines in an operating system which
only provides for single process architecture, etc.
Each of FIGS. 2a-2b illustrates a flow diagram of an algorithm
implementing one of the processing threads executable by EIR
terminal interface node. One execution thread is responsible for
processing the messages received by EIR terminal interface node
from the EIR terminal members of the managed fleet. Another
execution thread is responsible for processing the messages
received by EIR terminal interface node from the resource
network.
A skilled artisan would appreciate the fact that other processing
threads performing auxiliary functions (e.g., processing user
interface actions, managing the interface node outbound messages
queue, etc.) may be necessary to fully implement the functionality
of EIR terminal interface node.
FIG. 2a illustrates a flow diagram of a sample implementation of
the execution thread responsible for processing the messages
received by interface node from the EIR terminal members of the
managed fleet. A new execution thread implementing the described
algorithm can be initiated for every connection by an EIR terminal
110a-110z of FIG. 1a upon the EIR terminal's successful engagement
with (i.e., physical docking in) a docking station 120a-120z of
FIG. 1a and establishing a connection to EIR terminal interface
node. In the embodiment described with reference to the formal
drawings of FIG. 2a, a status message serves as a reprogramming
request and interface node 100 can respond to the status message by
building a reprogramming message for transmittal to the requesting
EIR terminal 110. Alternatively, system 1000 can be adapted so that
interface node 100 can build and transmit reprogramming messages to
EIR terminals 110 responsively to user interface actions and/or to
messages received from one or more external systems.
Upon being engaged with a docking station, an EIR terminal can
transmit a terminal status message 2001 to EIR terminal interface
node 100 of FIG. 1a. The message can include the following
information: 1. EIR terminal ID, e.g., manufacturer's serial
number. 2. EIR terminal type, e.g., manufacturer's model. 3.
Hardware configuration, represented by a list of at least some of
the hardware components contained by the EIR Terminal (e.g., a
barcode reading terminal can contain an imager, a battery, etc.)
For some of the hardware components, additional information can be
included, such as the component manufacturer's serial number, and
status information (e.g., battery charge level, imager status,
etc.) 4. Software configuration, represented by a list of at least
some of the software components installed at the EIR Terminal. For
each software component, at least its name and version can be
provided. For some of the software components, additional
information can be included such as a list of the values of the
component's configuration parameters.
At step 2010, EIR terminal interface node can read a message from
one of EIR terminals 110a-110z of FIG. 1a received via the
communication interfaces 132a-132z of FIG. 1a. Only two interfaces
132a and 132b are shown.
At step 2012, EIR terminal interface node 100 can ascertain whether
a terminal status message has been received. If yes, the processing
continues at step 2014; otherwise, the method loops back to step
2010.
At step 2014, EIR terminal interface node 100 can update a local
copy of a terminal status table with the EIR terminal status
information, and can queue a terminal status message for
transmittal to the resource network 150 of FIG. 1a. Upon receiving
the terminal status message, the resource network 150 can update
the EIR terminal configuration record in the fleet management
database 190 of FIG. 1a.
Turning ahead to FIG. 5a, a terminal status database 1090 can
include a plurality of tables that can be implemented utilizing
relational database technologies. For example, terminal status
database 1090 as indicated in FIG. 5a can include a Terminal
Configuration Table 510, a Hardware Component Configuration Table
520, and a Software Component Configuration Table 530.
At step 2016, EIR terminal interface node 100 can utilize the
information determined by querying the Terminal Reprogramming
Database 1094 to determine whether a docked EIR terminal should be
reprogrammed responsively to its docking in a docking station. With
further reference to FIG. 5b, a Terminal Reprogramming Database
1094 can take the form shown in FIG. 5b. Database 1094 can comprise
a Scheduled Terminal Reprogramming Table 540 having such columns as
Condition ID, Script File Name, Binary File Name, Data File Name,
and Priority.
The Condition ID field can refer to terminal identifying condition
which can be stored in Reprogramming Conditions Table 550. A
terminal identifying condition can be specified, e.g., by one or
more <operand=value> statements, wherein the operand can be,
for example, terminal ID, terminal type, component type, component
status, etc. If more than one <operand=value> condition is
used to specify the terminal identifying information, then the
sequential number of the condition can be stored in the sequence
number column, and the conditions can be joined by AND or OR
logical operations specified in the operation column, e.g.,
<component type=battery> AND <component status=1>.
A software process running on interface node 100 can query the
tables of database 1094 for purposes of determining whether an
identified file is to be transmitted to a particular terminal.
System 1000 can be configured so that for every record in Scheduled
Terminal Reprogramming Table 540, one or more conditions can be
extracted from Reprogramming Conditions Table 550, with Condition
ID in the records extracted from Table 550 matching the Condition
ID in the record of Table 540. If more than one condition is
extracted from Table 550, the extracted conditions can be ordered
according to the value of the Sequence Number column of Table 550,
and joined together with the logical operations specified in the
Operation column of Table 550. System 1000 can be further
configured so that for every terminal satisfying the one or more
conditions extracted, a new record can be created in Pending
Terminal Reprogramming Table 555. The newly created record can
include a Terminal ID; Script File Name; Binary File Name; Data
File Name; the Reprogramming Operation Priority; and the
Reprogramming Operation Status.
The Reprogramming Operation Priority can be specified, e.g., on a 1
to 10 scale with 1 being the highest and 10 being the lowest
priority.
The Reprogramming Operations Status can be set to "Scheduled" upon
creating a new record. The Reprogramming Operation Status can then
be changed to "Pending" upon transmitting a Reprogramming Message
to the corresponding terminal. The Reprogramming Operation Status
can be finally set to "Complete" upon receiving a Terminal Status
Message confirming the completion of the Reprogramming
Operation.
For every record in Table 555 with status different from
"Complete", interface node 100 can build a reprogramming message to
a particular terminal identified by the Terminal ID.
Interface node 100 can be configured so that database 1094 can be
modified by receipt of commands initiated by a user using a user
interface of interface node 100. A user of interface node 100 using
a user interface can enter commands causing a new row to be
appended to table 540. In one embodiment, system 1000 can be
configured so that if database 1090 has an entry corresponding to
the just docked terminal 100 and the update status indicates that
the reprogramming designated by that row has not been completed for
that terminal, interface node 100 builds a reprogramming message
for that particular terminal ID.
In one embodiment, EIR terminal interface node 100 can also utilize
the information determined by querying the Terminal Status Database
1090 to determine whether a docked EIR terminal satisfies a
terminal identifying condition specified by the Terminal
Reprogramming Database 1094. With further reference to FIG. 5a, a
Terminal Status Database 1090 can take the form shown in FIG. 5a.
Database 1090 can comprise a Terminal Configuration Table, a
Hardware Component Configuration Table, and a Software Component
Configuration Table.
Referring back to FIG. 2a, at step 2018, EIR terminal interface
node 100 can build a Terminal Reprogramming Message 2009
responsively to the database query at step 2016 and can transmit
the terminal reprogramming message to the EIR terminal 100 which
originated the terminal status message. The method can then loop
back to step 2010.
The terminal reprogramming message 2009 can contain commands and/or
data directing an EIR terminal to upgrade its software and/or
update its configuration. Terminal Reprogramming Message 2009 can
include the following information: 1. EIR terminal unique
identifier, e.g., manufacturer's serial number. 2. Zero or more
binary files. A binary file can contain software code to be
executed by the EIR terminal. 3. Zero or more data files. A data
file can contain EIR terminal software configuration parameters; a
data file can be e.g., an XML file, or a text file containing a
list of <name=value> configuration parameter pairs. 4. Zero
or more script files. A script file can contain, e.g., a sequence
of commands to be executed by the EIR terminal in order to
effectuate the software upgrade and/or configuration update. 5. A
message to be displayed to the EIR terminal operator. 6. Time of
executing the one or more script files and/or condition upon
satisfying which the EIR terminal should execute the one or more
script files.
Upon processing a Terminal Reprogramming Message, an EIR terminal
110 can transmit to EIR terminal interface node 100 a new terminal
status message which would be received in the message reading loop
comprising steps 2010-2012 of the present method.
Referring again to system 1000, system 1000 can be configured so
that either or both of resource network 150 and interface node 100
can be configured to include user interfaces enabling an
administrator to specify reprogramming files such as binary files
and data files for transmission to one or more EIR terminals 110.
Data of a reprogramming database 1094 can be modified either by way
of commands input by a user of an interface node 100 or by way of
messages built at the resource network 150 by way of commands input
by an operator at the resource network 150, or by a software
program processing messages received from an external system.
A user interface for running at interface node 100 has been
described in connection with FIG. 6a. The interface node operator
can select one or more reprogramming files from the local disk or
from the resource network 150. Then the operator can further
specify one or more terminals to which the selected files will be
transmitted, and initiate the transmission of the reprogramming
messages to the selected terminals by pressing the "Done"
button.
A user interface for running at the resource network 150 is shown
and described at FIG. 6b. The resource network operator can select
one or more reprogramming files from one of the computers 140a-140z
on the resource network 150. Then the operator can further specify
one or more terminals to which the selected files will be
transmitted, and initiate the transmission of the reprogramming
information messages to an interface node by pressing the "Done"
button.
FIG. 2b illustrates a flow diagram of a sample implementation of
the execution thread responsible for processing reprogramming
information messages received by EIR terminal interface node 100
from the resource network 150 of FIG. 1a. The thread can be
initiated upon the EIR terminal interface node being powered-up and
initialized. In the embodiment of FIG. 2b there is described a
particular method wherein a reprogramming information message is
received by interface node 100 prior to any reprogramming files and
when the reprogramming information file message is processed to
determine if files corresponding to the file information message
have been previously cached. It will be understood, however, that
system 1000 need not incorporate such caching functionality.
The resource network 150 can have a user interface configured as
described in connection with FIG. 6b allowing its operator to
specify the software upgrades and terminal updates to be performed,
selecting the target EIR terminals by the EIR terminal unique
identifier or by other EIR terminal attributes, including a
terminal identifier (terminal ID, e.g., a serial number), type,
presence or status of specific hardware components, etc. The
resource network 150 can also be configured to generate
reprogramming information messages automatically based on the input
that the resource network can receive from external systems (e.g.,
from the manufacturer's software upgrade management system). EIR
terminal interface node can be configured to receive terminal
reprogramming messages from the resource network and can process
such messages to modify Terminal Reprogramming Database 1094.
To minimize the network traffic between the resource network and
EIR terminal interface node, the resource network can be configured
to transmit to interface node 100 terminal reprogramming
information containing unique file names rather than the
reprogramming files (e.g., binary files, script files,
configuration data files) themselves. EIR terminal interface node
100 can be configured to cache all the terminal reprogramming files
in the local file system, and only request a terminal reprogramming
file to be transmitted by the resource network when the file can
not be found in the local file system of EIR terminal interface
node 100.
Reprogramming information messages that can be received by
interface node 100 from resource network 150 can include
reprogramming file identifier messages and reprogramming file
messages. An interface node 100 can receive a reprogramming file
identifier message, process the message to determine if the
identified file or files have been previously cached and can
conditionally request a file or files identified by a reprogramming
file identifier message on the condition that interface node 100
determines that the file or files requested have not been
previously cached.
Referring to FIG. 2b, at step 2210, EIR terminal interface node 100
reads incoming messages from the resource network.
At step 2220, EIR terminal interface node 100 ascertains whether a
reprogramming file identifier message has been received. If yes,
the processing continues at step 2230; otherwise the method
branches to step 2260.
A reprogramming file identifier message can include the following
information: 1. Terminal identifying information, e.g., a terminal
unique identifier, or a reprogramming condition. A reprogramming
condition can be specified, e.g., by one or more
<operand=value> statements, wherein the operand can be, for
example, terminal ID, terminal type, component type, component
status, etc. If more than one <operand=value> condition is
used to specify the terminal identifying information, then the
sequential number of the condition can be specified, and the
conditions can be joined by AND or OR logical operations, e.g.,
<component type=battery> AND <component status=1>. 2.
Zero or more identifiers of binary files. A binary file can contain
software code to be executed by the EIR terminal. 3. Zero or more
data files. A data file can contain EIR terminal software
configuration parameters; a data file can be e.g., an XML file, or
a text file containing a list of <name=value> configuration
parameter pairs. 4. Zero or more identifiers of script files. A
script file can contain, e.g., a sequence of commands to be
executed by the EIR terminal in order to effectuate the software
upgrade and/or configuration update.
At step 2230, EIR terminal interface node 100 modifies Terminal
Reprogramming Database 1094 by appending to Table 540 data
extracted from the reprogramming file identifier message.
At step 2240, EIR terminal interface node 100 ascertains whether
all files specified in the reprogramming file identifier message
exist in the local file system. If yes, the method loops back to
step 2210; otherwise, the processing continues at step 2250.
At step 2250, EIR terminal interface node queues for transmission
to resource network 150 a message requesting the files specified in
the reprogramming file identifier message received at step 2220 and
missing from the local file system. Then the method loops back to
step 2210.
At step 2260, EIR terminal interface node ascertains whether a
reprogramming file message has been received. If yes, the
processing continues at step 2270; otherwise the method loops back
to step 2210.
At step 2270, EIR terminal interface node stores the received one
or more files in the local file system. The method loops back to
step 2210.
FIG. 1 illustrates processing that can be carried out by one or
more resource network computers 140. FIG. 3 is a flow diagram
illustrating a sample implementation of the execution thread
responsible for processing the messages received by the resource
network 150 of FIG. 1a from EIR terminal interface node 100 of FIG.
1a. The thread can be initiated upon the resource network computer
power-up and initialization.
In one embodiment, the resource network 150 can be configured to
transmit a reprogramming file to EIR terminal interface node 100
responsive to receiving a reprogramming file request. In one
embodiment, the reprogramming file request can be represented by a
reprogramming request message.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the reprogramming file request
can be represented by a terminal status message. The resource
network can be further configured to update a terminal
configuration record in the EIR terminal fleet management database
responsive to receiving a terminal status message.
The interface node can communicate with the resource network using
the Service Oriented Architecture Protocol (SOAP), Open Database
Connectivity (ODBC) protocol, and/or a proprietary application
level protocol.
In another embodiment, the resource network 150 can initiate the
communication with the interface node by transmitting one or more
reprogramming information messages.
A skilled artisan would appreciate the fact that the functionality
provided by the embodiment with the resource network initiating the
communication can be implemented employing the request-response
embodiment, where the interface node transmits the reprogramming
file requests with a desired frequency. This can be useful, e.g.,
in a situation where a local network security policy prevents any
external entity (including the resource network 150) from opening a
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection to the hosts on the
local network (including the interface node).
Referring now to FIG. 3, at step 310, the resource network computer
reads incoming messages from EIR terminal interface node 100 of
FIG. 1a. Processing continues at step 340.
At step 340, the resource network computer ascertains whether a
reprogramming file request has been received. If yes, the
processing continues at step 350; otherwise the method branches to
step 360.
At step 350, the resource network computer queues for transmission
to EIR terminal interface node a terminal reprogramming file
message containing one or more files requested by EIR terminal
interface node.
At step 360, the resource network computer ascertains whether a
terminal status message has been received. If yes, the processing
continues at step 370; otherwise, the method loops back to step
310.
At step 370, the resource network computer parses the incoming
terminal status message and updates terminal configuration table of
the EIR terminal fleet management database with the EIR terminal
configuration information. Processing continues at step 380.
At step 380, the resource network computer builds queues for
transmission of a terminal reprogramming message to EIR terminal
interface node. The method loops back to step 310.
FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram of a sample implementation of the
execution thread responsible for communications to the EIR terminal
interface node by an EIR terminal member of a managed fleet.
An EIR terminal can be configured, periodically at the expiration
of a pre-set time-out, and/or every time an EIR terminal is powered
up, or engaged with a docking station, to ascertain the
connectivity to the EIR terminal interface node. An EIR terminal
can be further configured, upon ascertaining that the connectivity
to the EIR terminal interface node exists, to upload the data
collected by the EIR terminal since the last data upload operation
(e.g., during the last work shift). An EIR terminal can be further
configured, upon completing the data upload operation, to transmit
a terminal status message to the EIR terminal interface node. An
EIR terminal can be further configured, responsive to receiving a
terminal reprogram message, to perform the directed updates and
transmit a terminal status message reflecting the changed status to
EIR terminal interface node. An EIR terminal can also be configured
to periodically (e.g., within the message reading loop) ascertain
whether the terminal configuration and/or status has been changed
and transmit a terminal status message every time a terminal
configuration change has been detected. An interface node can be
configured to transmit terminal reprogramming messages only to
docked terminals.
Step 410 of testing a connection to EIR terminal interface node 100
of FIG. 1a can be performed at least periodically at the expiration
of a pre-set time-out, and/or every time an EIR terminal is powered
up, or engaged with a docking station 120. Processing continues at
step 420.
At step 420, the EIR terminal 100 ascertains whether it has
acquired a connection to EIR terminal interface node. If yes, the
processing continues at step 450; otherwise, the method loops back
to step 410.
At step 450, EIR terminal builds a terminal status message and
transmits it to EIR terminal interface node. Processing continues
at step 460.
At step 460, EIR terminal reads the incoming messages from EIR
terminal interface node. Processing continues at step 470.
At step 470, the method ascertains whether a terminal reprogramming
message has been received. If yes, the processing continues at step
480; otherwise, the method branches to step 490.
At step 480, EIR terminal parses the incoming terminal
reprogramming message and performs the updates specified in the
message. EIR terminal can execute the update script extracted from
the message immediately, or schedule it for execution at the time
specified in the reprogramming message or upon satisfying the
condition specified within the message. The update script can
include instructions resetting the EIR terminal upon completing the
reprogramming operation. The method loops back to step 450.
At step 490, EIR terminal ascertains whether the terminal
configuration has been changed since the last terminal status
message was sent to EIR terminal interface node. If yes, the method
loops back to step 450; otherwise, the method loops back to step
460.
FIG. 5 illustrates an example of the structure of the tables of EIR
terminal status and reprogramming databases.
Referring to Terminal Status Database shown in FIG. 5a, Terminal
Status Database 1090 can include Terminal Configuration Table 510,
Hardware Component Configuration Table 520, and Software Component
Configuration Table 530. Terminal Configuration Table 510 can
contain a plurality of terminal configuration records; each of
those records can include the following fields: Terminal ID,
Terminal Type, Hardware Component Record Pointer, and Software
Component Record Pointer.
Hardware Component Configuration Table 520 can contain a plurality
of hardware component configuration records; each of those records
can include the following fields: Component ID, Component Type, and
Component Status.
Software Component Configuration Table 530 can contain a plurality
of software component configuration records. Each of those records
can include the following fields: Component ID, Component Name,
Component Version, and Configuration Parameters.
Referring now to Terminal Reprogramming Database 1094 shown in FIG.
5b, Terminal Reprogramming Database can include Scheduled Terminal
Reprogramming Table 540, Reprogramming Conditions Table 550, and
Pending Terminal Reprogramming Table 555.
Scheduled Terminal Reprogramming Table 540 can contain a plurality
of scheduled terminal reprogramming records containing an EIR
terminal identifying information and at least one of: a Binary
File, a Data File, a Script File. Each of the terminal
reprogramming records can include the following fields: Condition
ID, Script File Name, Binary File Name, Data File Name, and
Reprogramming Operation Priority.
Script File Name is the name of a file in a file system local to or
accessible by resource network 150. A script file can contain,
e.g., a sequence of commands to be executed by the EIR terminal in
order to perform the software upgrade or configuration update.
Binary File Name is the name of a file in a file system local to or
accessible by resource network 150. A binary file can contain a
software code to be executed by the EIR terminal.
Data File Name is the name of a file in a file system local to or
accessible by resource network 150. A data file can contain
software configuration parameters. A data file can be, e.g., an XML
file, or a text file containing a list of <name=value>
configuration parameter pairs.
Reprogramming Conditions Table 550 can contain a plurality of
reprogramming condition records containing terminal identifying
information for use by interface node 100 in determining whether a
reprogramming message is to be built for a particular EIR terminal.
Such terminal identifying information can be specified, e.g., by
one or more <operand=value> conditions wherein the operand
can be for example, terminal ID, terminal type, component type,
component status, etc. If more than one <operand=value>
condition is used to specify the terminal identifying information,
then the sequential number of the condition can be stored in the
sequence number column, and the conditions can be joined by AND or
OR logical operations specified in the operation column, e.g.,
<component type=battery> AND <component status=1>.
Pending Terminal Reprogramming Table 555 can contain a plurality of
pending terminal reprogramming records. Each of those records can
include the following fields: Terminal ID, Script File Name, Binary
File Name, Data File Name, Reprogramming Operation Priority, and
Reprogramming Operation Status.
A software process running on interface node 100 can be configured
so that for every record in Scheduled Terminal Reprogramming Table
540, one or more conditions can be extracted from Reprogramming
Conditions Table 550, with the Condition ID in the records
extracted from Reprogramming Conditions Table 550 matching the
Condition ID in the records of Scheduled Terminal Reprogramming
Table 540. If more than one condition is extracted from
Reprogramming Conditions Table 550, the extracted conditions can be
ordered according to the value of the Sequence Number column of
Reprogramming Conditions Table 550, and joined together with the
logical operations specified in the Operation column of
Reprogramming Conditions Table 550. The software process running on
interface node 100 can be further configured so that for every
terminal satisfying the one or more conditions extracted, a new
record can be created in Pending Terminal Reprogramming Table
555.
The reprogramming operations status can be set to "Scheduled" upon
creating a new record. The reprogramming operation status can then
be changed to "Pending" upon transmitting a reprogramming message
to the corresponding terminal. The reprogramming operation status
can be finally set to "Complete" upon receiving a terminal status
message confirming the completion of the reprogramming
operation.
For every record in Pending Terminal Reprogramming Table 555 with
status different from "Complete", interface node 100 can build a
reprogramming message to a particular terminal identified by the
terminal ID.
A small sample of systems methods and apparatus that are described
herein is as follows:
A1. An encoded information reading (EIR) terminal interface node
for use in a data collection system having a plurality of EIR
terminals, each EIR terminal of said plurality of EIR terminals
having an EIR device selected from the group consisting of a
barcode reading device, an RFID reading device, and a card reading
device, said EIR interface node including one or more computers,
each computer comprising a central processing unit, a memory, and
at least one communication interface;
wherein said EIR terminal interface node is communicatively coupled
to a plurality of EIR terminals, each EIR terminal of said
plurality of EIR terminals being engageable to a docking
station;
wherein said EIR terminal interface node is communicatively coupled
to a reprogramming database, said reprogramming database containing
a plurality of reprogramming records, each reprogramming record of
said plurality of reprogramming records containing EIR terminal
identifying information and at least one of: a binary file
identifier, a data file identifier, a script file identifier;
wherein said EIR terminal interface node builds and transmits a
reprogramming message to one or more EIR terminals, said
reprogramming message including at least one of: a binary file, a
data file, a script file;
wherein said EIR terminal interface node utilizes information
determined by querying said reprogramming database when building
said reprogramming message;
wherein said binary file contains a software code to be executed by
an EIR terminal;
wherein said data file contains EIR terminal software configuration
parameters; and
wherein said script file contains a sequence of commands to be
executed by an EIR terminal.
A2. The EIR terminal interface node of claim A1, wherein said EIR
terminal interface node is communicatively coupled to a file
system; wherein said reprogramming database stores a plurality of
reprogramming file identifiers identifying reprogramming files
stored in said file system. A3. The EIR terminal interface node of
claim A1, wherein said EIR terminal interface node is configured to
run a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server software
program to service DHCP requests for dynamic assignment of IP
addresses, said requests being initiated by one or more EIR
terminals of said plurality of EIR terminals. A4. The EIR terminal
interface node of claim A1, wherein said EIR terminal interface
node is further configured to query a docked EIR terminal for a
list of active communication interfaces;
wherein at least one EIR terminal of said plurality of EIR
terminals is configured to reply to said active interface list
request with a list of its active interfaces, said list of active
interfaces including interface types and IP addresses; and
wherein said EIR terminal interface node is further configured,
upon receiving said list of an EIR terminal's active interfaces, to
perform further communication with said terminal over a
communication interface selected from said list of active
interfaces, said communication interface not associated with a
docking station to which said terminal is currently engaged.
A5. The EIR terminal interface node of claim A1, further including
a user interface enabling a user of said EIR terminal interface
node to modify said reprogramming database; wherein said EIR
terminal interface node builds said reprogramming message
responsively to a user action via said user interface. A6. The EIR
terminal interface node of claim A1, wherein said EIR terminal
interface node builds said reprogramming message responsively to
receiving a reprogramming request from a certain EIR terminal of
said plurality of terminals. A7. The EIR terminal interface node of
claim A1, wherein said EIR terminal interface node is configured so
that said EIR terminal interface node transmits said reprogramming
message to a certain EIR terminal responsively to said certain EIR
terminal being docked in a docking station. A8. The EIR terminal
interface node of claim A1, wherein said EIR terminal interface
node is configured so that said EIR terminal interface node
transmits said reprogramming message to a certain EIR terminal only
during a specified time frame. A9. The EIR terminal interface node
of claim A1, wherein said terminal identifying information is
selected from the group consisting of a terminal unique identifier
and a reprogramming condition. A10. The EIR terminal interface node
of claim A1, wherein said reprogramming message further specifies
one of time of executing said script file condition to be satisfied
to trigger the executing of said script file. B1. An encoded
information reading (EIR) terminal interface node for use in a data
collection system having a plurality of EIR terminals, each EIR
terminal of said plurality of EIR terminals having an EIR device
selected from the group consisting of a barcode reading device, an
RFID reading device, and a card reading device, said EIR interface
node including one or more computers, each computer comprising a
central processing unit, a memory, and at least one communication
interface;
wherein said EIR terminal interface node is communicatively coupled
to a plurality of EIR terminals, each EIR terminal of said
plurality of EIR terminals being engageable to a docking
station;
wherein said EIR terminal interface node is communicatively coupled
to a reprogramming database, said reprogramming database containing
a plurality of reprogramming records, each reprogramming record of
said plurality of reprogramming records containing an EIR terminal
identifying information and at least one of: a binary file
identifier, a data file identifier, a script file identifier;
wherein said EIR terminal interface node builds and transmits a
reprogramming message to one or more EIR terminals, said
reprogramming message including at least one of: a binary file, a
data file, a script file;
wherein said EIR terminal interface node utilizes information
determined by querying said reprogramming database when building
said reprogramming message;
wherein said binary file contains software code to be executed by
an EIR terminal;
wherein said data file contains EIR terminal software configuration
parameters;
wherein said script file contains a sequence of commands to be
executed by an EIR terminal;
wherein said EIR terminal interface node further includes a user
interface enabling a user of said EIR terminal interface node to
modify said reprogramming database; and
wherein said EIR terminal interface node is further configured so
that said EIR terminal interface node modifies said reprogramming
database responsively to receiving a reprogramming information
message from a resource network.
B2. The EIR terminal interface node of claim B1, wherein said EIR
terminal interface node is communicatively coupled to a file
system; wherein said reprogramming database stores a plurality of
reprogramming file identifiers identifying reprogramming files
stored in said file system. B3. The EIR terminal interface node of
claim B1, wherein said EIR terminal interface node further includes
a user interface enabling a user of said EIR terminal interface
node to specify one of: Domain Name System (DNS) name of at least
one computer on said resource network, IP address of at least one
computer on said resource network. B4. The EIR terminal interface
node of claim B1, wherein said EIR terminal interface node
communicates with said resource network using one of: Service
Oriented Architecture Protocol (SOAP), Open Database Connectivity
(ODBC) protocol, a proprietary application level protocol. B5. The
EIR terminal interface node of claim B1, wherein said EIR terminal
interface node is configured to receive one or more said
reprogramming information messages from said resource network
responsively to transmitting a request to said resource network.
B6. The EIR terminal interface node of claim B1, wherein said EIR
terminal interface node is configured to receive one or more said
reprogramming information messages from said resource network
responsively to transmitting a terminal status message to said
resource network. B7. The EIR terminal interface node of claim B1,
wherein said EIR terminal interface node is configured,
responsively to transmitting a request to a computer on said
resource network, to receive a re-direction response including a
re-direction address; and
wherein said EIR terminal interface node is further configured to
receive said reprogramming information message responsively to
transmitting request to said re-direction address.
B8. The EIR terminal interface node of claim B1, wherein said EIR
terminal interface node is configured to allow a local
administrator to specify a processing workflow to be executed upon
a reprogramming message received from said resource network before
performing a modification of said reprogramming database. C1. An
encoded information reading (EIR) terminal interface node for use
in a data collection system having a plurality of EIR terminals,
each EIR terminal of said plurality of EIR terminals having an EIR
device selected from the group consisting of a barcode reading
device, an RFID reading device, and a card reading device, said EIR
interface node including one or more computers, each computer
comprising a central processing unit a memory, and at least one
communication interface;
wherein said EIR terminal interface node is communicatively coupled
to a plurality of EIR terminals, each EIR terminal of said
plurality of EIR terminals being engageable to a docking
station;
wherein said EIR terminal interface node is communicatively coupled
to a reprogramming database, said reprogramming database containing
a plurality of reprogramming records, each reprogramming record of
said plurality of reprogramming records containing an EIR terminal
identifying information and at least one of: a binary file
identifier, a data file identifier, a script file identifier;
wherein said EIR terminal interface node is communicatively coupled
to a terminal status database, said terminal status database
containing a plurality of terminal status records;
wherein said EIR terminal interface node builds and transmits a
reprogramming message to one or more EIR terminals, said
reprogramming message including at least one of: a binary file, a
data file, a script file;
wherein said EIR terminal interface node utilizes information
determined by querying said reprogramming database and said
terminal status database when building said reprogramming
message;
wherein said binary file contains software code to be executed by
an EIR terminal;
wherein said data file contains EIR terminal software configuration
parameters; and
wherein said script file contains a sequence of commands to be
executed by an EIR terminal.
C2. The EIR terminal interface node of claim C1, wherein said EIR
terminal interface node is communicatively coupled to a file
system; wherein said reprogramming database stores a plurality of
reprogramming file identifiers identifying reprogramming files
stored in said file system.
C3. The EIR terminal interface node of claim C1, further including
a user interface enabling a user of said EIR terminal interface
node to modify said reprogramming database; wherein said EIR
terminal interface node builds said reprogramming message
responsively to a user action via said user interface.
D1. An encoded information reading (EIR) terminal interface node
for use in a data collection system having a plurality of EIR
terminals, each EIR terminal of said plurality of EIR terminals
having an EIR device selected from the group consisting of a
barcode reading device, an RFID reading device, and a card reading
device, said EIR interface node including one or more computers,
each computer comprising a central processing unit, a memory, and
at least one communication interface;
wherein said EIR terminal interface node is communicatively coupled
to a plurality of EIR terminals, each EIR terminal of said
plurality of EIR terminals being engageable to a docking
station;
wherein said EIR terminal interface node builds and transmits a
reprogramming message to one or more EIR terminals, said
reprogramming message including at least one reprogramming
file;
wherein said EIR terminal interface node is further configured to
receive a reprogramming information message from a resource
network, said reprogramming information message containing
identifiers of one or more reprogramming files;
wherein said EIR terminal interface node is further configured to
request the transmission by a resource network of one or more
reprogramming files identified in said reprogramming information
message responsively to a determination that said one or more
reprogramming files have not been previously received and stored by
said EIR terminal interface node.
D2. The EIR terminal interface node of claim D1, wherein said EIR
terminal interface node is configured to receive one or more said
reprogramming information messages from said resource network
responsively to transmitting a request to said resource network.
D3. The EIR terminal interface node of claim D1, wherein said EIR
terminal interface node is configured to receive one or more said
reprogramming information messages from said resource network
responsively to transmitting a terminal status message to said
resource network. D4. The EIR terminal interface node of claim D1,
wherein said EIR terminal interface node is configured,
responsively to transmitting a request to a computer on said
resource network, to receive a re-direction response including a
re-direction address; wherein said EIR terminal interface node is
further configured to receive said reprogramming information
message responsively to transmitting request to said re-direction
address. E1. An encoded information reading (EIR) terminal
interface node for use in a data collection system having a
plurality of EIR terminals, each EIR terminal of said plurality of
EIR terminals having an EIR device selected from the group
consisting of a barcode reading device, an RFID reading device, and
a card reading device, said EIR interface node including one or
more computers, each computer comprising a central processing unit,
a memory, and at least one communication interface;
wherein said EIR terminal interface node is communicatively coupled
to a plurality of EIR terminals, each EIR terminal of said
plurality of EIR terminals being engageable to a docking
station;
wherein said EIR terminal interface node is communicatively coupled
to a reprogramming database, said reprogramming database containing
a plurality of reprogramming records, each reprogramming record of
said plurality of reprogramming records containing an EIR terminal
identifying information and at least one reprogramming file
identifier;
wherein said EIR terminal interface node builds and transmits a
reprogramming message to one or more EIR terminals, said
reprogramming message including at least one reprogramming
file;
wherein said EIR terminal interface node further includes a user
interface enabling a user of said EIR terminal interface node to
modify said reprogramming database;
wherein said EIR terminal interface node is configured so that said
EIR interface node can transmit one or more reprogramming files to
a certain one of said plurality of EIR terminals responsively to a
received reprogramming request from said certain one of said EIR
terminals;
wherein said EIR terminal interface is configured to monitor a
docked or undocked status of each of said plurality of EIR
terminals; and
wherein said EIR terminal status is configured to that said EIR
interface node is restricted from transmitting said reprogramming
files to a certain one of said EIR terminals unless said EIR
terminal is determined to be docked in one of said docking
stations.
F1. A method for reprogramming a portable encoded information
reading (EIR) terminal operating within a fleet of encoded
information reading terminals, said method comprising the steps
of:
providing at a local facility at a location external to said
portable EIR terminal a reprogramming database including
information respecting one or more reprogramming files, said one or
more files intended for transmittal to one or more EIR terminals,
the providing step including the step of providing said
reprogramming database so that said reprogramming database can be
updated responsively to receiving a reprogramming information
message from a location remote from said local facility;
further providing at said local facility at a location external to
said portable EIR terminal a terminal status database for storing
information respecting a condition status of terminals of said
fleet of terminals, the further providing step including the step
of providing the terminal status database so that said terminal
status database can be modified responsively to status messages
being received from said terminals of said fleet of encoded
information reading terminals;
receiving a reprogramming request from said encoded information
reading terminal;
querying said programming database and said terminal status
database responsively to said receiving of said reprogramming
request;
utilizing information determined by said querying of said
programming database and said terminal status database to build a
reprogramming message for transmitting to said encoded information
reading terminal; and
transmitting to said encoded information reading terminal said
reprogramming message.
While the present invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments, it will
be understood by one skilled in the art that various changes in
detail may be affected therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined by claims that can be
supported by the written description and drawings. Further, where
exemplary embodiments are described with reference to a certain
number of elements it will be understood that the exemplary
embodiments can be practiced utilizing less than the certain number
of elements.
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References